Toronto students march against Doug Ford in province-wide OSAP protest
Post-secondary students are once again taking to the streets en masse this week in response to the provincial government's recent cuts to their education and financial assistance programs.
March for students rights is heading up University Ave. to City Hall #wearethestudents pic.twitter.com/S6vZ3OIQSM
— Taylor West (@TaylorW00040269) February 4, 2019
Nearly 1,500 Facebook users have indicated that they'll be attending what protest organizers are calling a "province-wide march for students' rights" today between noon and 3 p.m.
Students and community allies are gathered again to protest the changes to OSAP & student fees proposed by @DrFullertonMPP @fordnation. #WeAreTheStudents #onpoli #topoli #onpse pic.twitter.com/p3iDRyonez
— Kevin Taghabon (@KevinTaghabon) February 4, 2019
Hundreds started their journey at the corner of Dundas and University early Monday afternoon.
Off we go. Student protest kicks off at University and Dundas. #WeAreTheStudents pic.twitter.com/eAYeCy7Z4q
— Katrya Bolger (@katbolger) February 4, 2019
"On Monday, February 4th, students across the province as well as Ontario citizens studying across the country will all protest at once to show the Ford government how we feel about his arbitrary cuts to our education," reads a description for the event.
The #wearethestudents protest believes that “cuts to education = class discrimination.” pic.twitter.com/fol27tsZVK
— Hannah Alberga (@AlbergaHannah) February 4, 2019
"Every campus across the province will have a protest, with a massive march on Queen's Park planned for those at Toronto-area schools."
“Who’s province? Our province” - students chant on route to Queen’s park #wearethestudents pic.twitter.com/2LZ5XY1QY3
— Ashley Fraser (@ashleymfraser) February 4, 2019
Queen's Park is already filled to the brim with chanting demonstrators.
Students rallying at Queen's Park arriving for their protest against Ford's cuts to #OSAP. pic.twitter.com/lUI6WTvqqM
— Peter Tabuns (@Peter_Tabuns) February 4, 2019
Student leaders are taking to the podium in front of Ontario's legislature to make their voices heard.
Chair of Federation of Student Ontario: "I want to focus on us, the students. We are stronger than ever before because we are working together. I know that we will win because we will not back down." pic.twitter.com/spF1oaPrkD
— June Jang (@jang_june) February 4, 2019
Members of the NDP party are similarly getting up to speak and share their messages of support with the crowd.
Cutting student loans & grants while students are already struggling with affordability and students debt is wrong. #onpoli #YSW #Students #osap what is needed is student loans converted to grants & all student loan interest eliminated. More paid work integrated learning jobs. pic.twitter.com/girPTS929P
— Faisal Hassan (@FaisalHassanNDP) February 4, 2019
As usual, many of their signs are perfect.
Sounds about right. pic.twitter.com/9lxsZD4MB1
— Students for Ontario (@TheStudentsON) February 4, 2019
Especially after the publication of government data showing that as many as 40 per cent of full-time, domestic Ontario college students made use of full tuition grants in 2017.
— Students for Ontario (@TheStudentsON) February 4, 2019
Demonstrations are expected to continue at Queen's Park until 3 p.m. on Monday. Visit Students for Ontario on Facebook to find dates and locations for other protest events taking place across the province.
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